Means for destroying aircraft



1942- s. P. JOHNSON MEANS FOR DESTROYING AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l T O l t n E U m jl azvey P (/0671 so?! A iiomey Oct. 20, 1942. s. P. JQHNSON MEANS FOR DESTROYING, AIRCRAFT Filed Oct. 8, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Jl'an P (lb 71 A iiorne y Patented oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for destroying aircraft and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a flexible member or strand to be carried by and suspended from an aircraft in flight and which, upon contacting an opposing aircraft; isadapted to cut thereinto for destroying or crippling same.

Another very important object of the invenn tion is to provide a'means for destroying aircraft ss t ous e pe 8 which is p ov ed comprising one or more contact bombs for further assuring destruction of an aircraft with which the device comes in contact.

Other objects of the invention are'to provide a means for destroying aircraft which will be comparatively simple in construction, reliable in use and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects.

and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: Figure l is a view in side elevation, showing an airplane in flight and equipped with a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the fuselage ofthe airplane being broken away in section.

Figure 2 is a view in side'elevationof a portion A of the flexible cutter, showing a part thereof broken away in section. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially- 'on the line 3-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through a flexible cutter comprising a cable of the type' which includes a plurality of strands.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the airplane fuselage, 40

showing the reel for the flexible cutter mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view through the fuselage, taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 isa view in front elevation of a pore lion of another form of flexible cutter, a part thereof being broken away in section. 1

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken substantially 0n the line 8- 8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it

will be seen that the reference numeral I designates a-reel which is rotatably mounted on yieldable supports 2 in the fuselage 3 of an airplane which is designated generally by the reference 55 5 rotating the reel brake 6 prevents idle rotation of the reel l.

numeral 4. It may be well to here state that the yieldable supports 2 constitute shock absorbers the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Suitable, means, such as a crank 5, is provided for A spring pressed friction Thev reference numeral 1 designates generally a flexible cutter having one end connected to the reel l for winding thereon. Theflexible cutter therefor m the bottom of the airplane fuselage 8.

- The flexiblecutter 1 comprises a strand 9 of suitable wire or cable which, as bestseen-in Figure 1 of the drawings, is tapered toward its loose or free end. Mounted in any suitable man 5 stabilizer i3.

It is thought that the manner in which the invention functions will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the airplane takes off and has gained the de- 0 siredaltitude, the flexible cutter i may be lowered therefrom. When an enemy craft is attacked it is done from a higher altitude and pref- K erably while travelling in the opposite direction.

When the flexible cutter I contacts the opposing aircraft and is drawn rapidly thereacross the particles it. out thereinto in a manner to destroy or cripple same. The particles l2 also produce sparks for possibly igniting the fuel of the craft to be destroyed. Should one of the contactbombs l0 engag the opposing craft substantially complete destruction thereof in the air is assured.- The shock absorbers 2 prevent too much shock from being transmitted to the fuselage 3 when the cutter! strikes an opposing aircraft. .As

- 5v shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, a portion of the flexible cutter lis left wound on the reel 8. The friction brake 6 permits this to be done. When the cutter l strikes an opposing aircraft the friction brake 6 permits the reel 1 to rotate for o paying out a .little more of the strand 1, thus further reducing shock.

In Figure 4 of the drawings, the reference numeral M designates a flexible strand of the type comprising a multiplicity of wires. In other re spects, this embodiment is substantially similar to that shown in Figure 3. In themodification illustrated in Figures 7' and 8 of the drawings, the reference numeral l5 designates a flexible strand 01- wire which is substantially ovate in cross section. Thus, the tail or stabilizer l3 of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4 is eliminated. It is believed that the many advantages of an aircraft destroying means constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although preferred embodiments of the apparatus are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention. as claimed.

What is claimed is: A device for suspension from a reel in an aircraft to depend below said craft comprising a' 4 front edge and converging side edges which form a sharp rear edge, the converging side parts preventing twisting of the cable when suspended from the reel and a coating of particles of abrasive material on the cable for increasing the cutting action of the cable on the aircraft engaged thereby.

SIDNEY P. JOHNSON. 

